Fresh talent for Family Court

The Family Court of Australia has appointed four new judges including Judge Ann Ainslie-Wallace, Margaret Cleary, William Johnston and Ian Loughnan, announced today (29 June) by Attorney-General

The Family Court of Australia has appointed four new judges including Judge Ann Ainslie-Wallace, Margaret Cleary, William Johnston and Ian Loughnan, announced today (29 June) by Attorney-General Robert McClelland.

Judge Ainslie-Wallace will be assigned to the Family Court's Appeal Division, bringing experience gained on the bench of the District Court of New South Wales where she has been a judge since 1997. She is also the current deputy chair of the NSW Medical Tribunal.

Cleary has practised at the NSW Bar since 1986, specialising in children's family law cases. She has considerable arbitrating and mediating experience and was a solicitor with John Allanson & Associates before being admitted to the Bar in 1986.

Johnston and Loughnan have had a long involvement with the Family Court and have been judicial registrars of the Court since 1990 and 1995 respectively.

Johnston joined the Family Court in 1980 as a deputy registrar, becoming the Court's principal registrar in 1986. In 1989 he returned to legal practice as a specialist family law solicitor.

Loughnan has previously held various clerical and administrative positions with the Family Law Division of the Supreme Court of NSW and with the Family Court.

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